India Considers Customized Two-Seater Variant of Russia's Su-57 Stealth Fighter with Local Production, Russian Media Reports

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India's quest for advanced fifth-generation fighter jets has taken an interesting turn, with reports emerging from Russian media that India is considering the acquisition of Russia's Su-57 stealth fighter.

The reports suggest that India is particularly interested in a two-seat variant of the Su-57, potentially manufactured locally under the "Make in India" initiative. This could involve joint development and technology transfer, further deepening defense cooperation between the two countries.

According to Russian military analyst Igor Korotchenko, the Su-57 outperforms its American counterpart, the F-35, in several key areas. He also highlighted potential risks associated with American systems, suggesting vulnerabilities in sensitive technology that could be exploited during conflicts.

One of the most intriguing aspects of this potential deal is the proposed development of a two-seat Su-57 variant specifically tailored to India's needs. This configuration would be a first for a fifth-generation fighter, offering increased operational flexibility and unique advantages in training and complex missions.

The second seat could accommodate a weapons systems officer or a trainer, enhancing the aircraft's capabilities in electronic warfare, reconnaissance, and long-range strike missions.

India's interest in the Su-57 aligns with its broader defense modernization goals, as reported by Russian media. With the recent induction of the Russian S-400 missile defense system, India has demonstrated its willingness to diversify its military imports while maintaining strategic autonomy. Korotchenko emphasized the significance of a fifth-generation fighter in solidifying India's position as a global power, particularly as a nuclear-armed nation.

While these reports suggest a growing interest from India, several factors will influence the final decision, including cost, technology transfer agreements, and the potential impact on India's indigenous fighter jet programs.

Nonetheless, the possibility of India acquiring a customized, two-seat variant of the Su-57 with local production represents a significant development in India's pursuit of advanced airpower capabilities.
 
My knowledge is very limited, but I am going to say it because it seems a logical question. Guys comment here that India should not trust the USA, etc., calling them backstabbers and so on. In that case, why is HAL buying US-made engines for Tejas? It makes no sense. US-made jets have proven battle-worthy; the F-35s are feared aircraft and combat-ready, so if the budget permits, India should go for it. Over 10 years have passed, and we are still messing around. God knows if HAL will ever deliver the required jets. Meanwhile, our neighbors are arming by the day.
 
How can it be a dependency if we don't have a working AMCA that is still in drawing board 😹😹😹 no wonder we are so already late and still sticking to HAL's and GoI false promises.
Hm, we don't have prototype yet but we aren't buying russian su57 as concerns regarding its performance and western sanctions make it a difficult to produce. Even Russians are going tough production crises . We have a trust on our HAL and supports it.
 
Considering that Pakistan has signed a deal with China for acquiring J-35, and US being very unreliable when it matters most (stopping delivery of GE-404 Engines till further notice causing our home grown planes literally standing in the production lines), india should move ahead and procure atleast 3-4 squadrons of Su-57E. Also scrap the deal of GE-404 Engines with GE and sign a new deal with Russian or French companies.
 
India had joined PAKFA but Indians were not made partners in development in the true sense. India is making significant progress in indigenous fighter development programs. It needs to be understood local manufacturing (Assembling) is not self-reliance (rather it leads to lifelong depence on original OEM) as we have seen in the case of MiG-21 and others
 
The problem with India's defence design and manufacturing is the lack of vision, singular chain of command and planning and research so isolated from the field that every development phase is met with criticism, doubt, and reluctance in even testing the product. Our research groups target what is today's requirement and then go to the drawing board. Unfortunately, in this fast paced world, when they come back with something, the requirements are now for 10 years later!
 
This will be a normal arrangement in every way. A lot of investment has already been sunk by India into this fighter in the past and the basic Sukhoi manufacturing ecosystem is already there.
 
I don't think Sukhoi designed this as a proper stealth aircraft. It was designed in the early 2000s and they didn't have the advantage that the Chinese had through espionage etc. And they still focused more on maneuverability instead of stealth.
 
While the Su-57 might provide a short-term solution, procuring it would reinforce India’s dependency on foreign technology, which contradicts the AMCA’s goal of achieving greater self-reliance in defense technology. It might also delay the domestic innovation necessary to produce the AMCA independently.
And if we small order then price would be going to be high...
Making a plane without an engine is like making a toy plane for hangar operations only...
 

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